Key Facts: Ghana vs Syria Wages
- Ghana Minimum Wage
- GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Ghana Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- GH₵3,500 /mo ($235.69 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) / Ministry of Finance (MOFEP) / National Tripartite Committee; 2025-2026 daily rates per official gazettements (2026-05-27), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Ghana
Syria
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Ghana is roughly 90 times lower than in Syria in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Ghana at $236/mo compared to $120/mo in Syria. GDP per capita (PPP) in Ghana is 1.7x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Ghana has higher GDP per capita ($8,020 vs $4,772). Ghana's unemployment rate is 3.0% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Ghana | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | GH₵2.72 $0.18 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | GH₵21.77 $1.47 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | GH₵565.02 $38.05 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Minimum wage /yr | GH₵6,780.24 $456.58 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | GH₵3,500 /mo $235.69 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | GH₵3,000 /mo $202.02 | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
| Median individual income /yr | GH₵12,000 /yr $808.08 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Ghana is higher.
Work Week
- Ghana
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) sets standard working hours at 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week. Overtime must be paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Work on rest days or public holidays at 2x.
- Syria
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law No. 17 of 2010 set 48 hours/week as the standard. Friday is the weekly rest day. Enforcement is impossible across most of the country due to conflict. Government employees in Damascus and other major cities are the primary remaining formal workforce.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Ghana earns 8888% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Ghana mandates 40 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Ghana are $7 vs $790 in Syria.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Ghana
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Ghana or Syria?
In Ghana, the minimum wage is GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 8888% in USD terms. That nominal gap does not account for local prices; see the purchasing power comparison below for a cost-of-living-adjusted view. Workers in Ghana may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Ghana compared to Syria?
The average gross salary in Ghana is GH₵3,500/mo ($235.69 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Ghana earn approximately 96% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Ghana and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ghana earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.
How do work hours compare between Ghana and Syria?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Ghana. Workers in Ghana work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Ghana working fewer hours may have comparable or better effective hourly earnings depending on the wage levels of each country. Total annual compensation depends on both the wage rate and the number of hours required.
What is the cost of living difference between Ghana and Syria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Ghana has the higher GDP per capita at $8,020, which is 1.7x that of Syria at $4,772. From Ghana's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.